肝癌是造成癌症相關死亡的主要原因之一。而常規化療受耐藥性的發展和各種副作用的限制。由於無毒性和鲜明的生物药物能力，從蘑菇提取的代謝物在癌症治療中獲得更多的注意和关注。我們以前的研究已經證明來自平菇香菇多醣蛋白複合物的抗癌作用。本研究的目的是探討一種含有多醣蛋白複合物的秀珍菇（PP）熱水提取物在肝癌細胞中抗癌活性的分子機制。 / 我們的研究結果表明，用PP处理过的肝癌細胞，不僅顯著的显示出降低的體外腫瘤細胞的增殖和侵襲，也增強化療藥物順鉑的藥物敏感性。無論是口服和腹腔注射都顯著抑制移植免疫BALB / c裸小鼠的腫瘤生長。同时，PP也能在體外和體內实验顯著抑制PI3K/Akt信號通路在肝癌細胞。有趣的是，当过表达AKT时，Myr-AKT，PP的這種抑制癌细胞生长的效果有减弱的趋势，同时也反映在PP对癌细胞侵襲抑制的作用上。印跡和酶聯免疫吸附試驗結果表明，在PP处理过的肝癌細胞中，血管內皮生長因子（VEGF）的表達和分泌減少了。此外， rhVEGF的加入减弱了 PP对PI3K/Akt通路和肝癌细胞表型的抑製作用。 / 我們的研究結果表明，PP能在體外和體內试验中抑制肝癌細胞增殖，侵襲和耐藥性，通过抑制分泌血管內皮生長因子誘導PI3K/Akt的信號通路。這項研究表明了PP的潛在治療肝癌的治療意義。 / Liver cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Conventional chemotherapies are limited by the development of drug resistance and various side effects. Because of its non-toxicity and potent biopharmacological activity, metabolites derived from mushrooms have received more attention in cancer therapy. Our previous studies have demonstrated the anti-cancer effects of polysaccharide-protein complexes derived from the Pleurotus mushrooms. The aim of this study was to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism of the anti-cancer activity of a hot water extract containing a polysaccharide-protein complex isolated from Pleurotus pulmonarius (PP) in liver cancer cells. / Our results indicated that exposure of liver cancer cells to PP not only significantly reduced the in vitro cancer cell proliferation and invasion but also enhanced the drug-sensitivity to the chemotherapeutic drug Cisplatin. Both oral administration and intraperitoneal injection of PP significantly inhibited the tumor growth in xenograft BALB/c nude mice. PP triggered a marked suppression of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, and overexpression of the constitutively active form of AKT, Myr-AKT, abrogated this effect and the inhibited proliferation and invasion by PP. Both western blot and ELISA results showed that PP-treated liver cancer cells had reduced expression and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Addition of recombinant human VEGF attenuated the inhibitory effects of PP on PI3K/AKT pathway and the cancer phenotypes. / Our results demonstrated that PP suppressed the proliferation, invasion, and drug-resistance of liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, mediated by the inhibition of autocrine VEGF-induced PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. All these results suggest the potential therapeutic implication of PP in the treatment of human liver cancer. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Xu, Wenwen. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-99). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Thesis Committee --- p.i / English Abstract --- p.ii / Chinese Abstract --- p.iv / Acknowledgements --- p.v / List of Tables --- p.vi / List of Figures --- p.vii / Abbreviations --- p.x / Content page --- p.xiv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Literature Review --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Mushroom as functional foods --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Introduction of functional food --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Functional food and cancer --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Edible Mushroom as functional food --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Pleurotus pulmonarius and its function --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2 --- Hepatocellular carcinoma --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Liver and hepatocellular carcinoma --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Carcinogenesis of liver cancer --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.2.1 --- Hallmarks of cancer --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.2.2 --- Cell cycle --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.2.3 --- Apoptosis --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.2.4 --- Angiogenesis --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.2.5 --- Invasion and metastasis --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.2.6 --- Drug resistance --- p.21 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- The role of PI3K/AKT pathway --- p.23 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- The role of growth factor Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in HCC --- p.25 / Chapter 1.3 --- Research objectives --- p.27 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Hypothesis and objectives --- p.27 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Experimental design --- p.28 / Chapter Chaper 2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Drugs and cell lines --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Antibodies list --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Animal models --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2 --- Sample preparation and structure investigation --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Polysaccharide extraction from mushroom --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Endotoxin test --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Determination of monosaccharide profile by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS) --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.3.1 --- Sample preparation for gas chromatography analysis --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.3.1.1 --- Acid depolymerisation --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.3.1.2 --- Neutral sugar derivatization --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.3.1.3 --- External monosaccharide standard preparation --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.3.2 --- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Determination of total sugar by phenol-sulfuric acid method (Dubois, 1956) --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Determination of protein content by Lowry-Folin method (Lowry et al.,1951) --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3 --- Biological assays --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- In vitro assays --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.1.1 --- MTT assay --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.1.2 --- Colony formation assay --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.1.3 --- Plasmid transfection --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3.1.4 --- In vitro cell invasion assay --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3.1.5 --- Cell cycle analysis --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3.1.6 --- Western blot analysis --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3.1.7 --- VEGF ELISA Kit --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- In vivo assays --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Tumor xenograft nude mouse model --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Immunohistochemistry --- p.45 / Chapter 2.3.2.3 --- H&Estaining --- p.45 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Statistical analysis --- p.45 / Chapter Chaper 3 --- Results and discussion --- p.46 / Chapter 3.1 --- The yield and chemical characteristic of PP --- p.46 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- The yield of PP from mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius --- p.46 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Total carbohydrate and protein content --- p.47 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Monosaccharide composition by GC-MS --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2 --- Toxicity of the PP water by Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test --- p.48 / Chapter 3.3 --- Effects of PP on the proliferation of liver cancer cell lines --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- MTT assay --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Colony-formation assay --- p.51 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Cytotoxic effects of PP against normal liver cell --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- The anti-proliferative effect of PP on other cancer types --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry of PP treated liver cancer cells --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- Protein expression by western blot analysis of P treated liver cancer cells --- p.56 / Chapter 3.4 --- Anti-cancer effect of PP on liver cancer cells through inactivation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway --- p.57 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Effect of PP on inactivation of PI3K/AKT pathway --- p.57 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- The abrogated inhibitory effect of PP on Huh7 with overexpression of AKT. --- p.59 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- The abrogated inhibitory effect of PP on PI3K/AKT signal pathway with overexpression of the constitutively active form of AKT, Myr-AKT --- p.60 / Chapter 3.5 --- Inhibition of VEGF expression and secretion by PP --- p.62 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- ELISA result of PP on VEGF secretion --- p.62 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- The attenuated inhibitory effect of PP on cell proliferation with addition of rhVEGF --- p.63 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- The attenuated inhibitory effect of PP on PI3K/AKT signal pathway with addition of rhVEGF --- p.64 / Chapter 3.6 --- Effect of PP on enhancing the chemosensitivity of liver cancer cells to Cisplatin --- p.66 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Synergistic effect of PP with cisplatin (DDP) in liver cancer cells --- p.66 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- The abrogated drug-resistant effect by PP by overexpression of the constitutively active form of AKT, Myr-AKT --- p.67 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- The abrogated drug-resistant effect of PP with addition of rhVEGF --- p.68 / Chapter 3.7 --- The anti-invasive potential of PP on liver cancer cells. --- p.69 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- Boyden chamber assay --- p.69 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- The attenuated anti-invasive effect of PP on liver cancer cells with overexpression of constitutively activated AKT --- p.71 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- The attenuated anti-invasive effect of PP on liver cancer cells with addition of rhVEGF --- p.72 / Chapter 3.8 --- The anti-tumor effect of PP in vivo --- p.73 / Chapter 3.8.1 --- The anti-tumor effect of PP by using tumor xenograft model --- p.73 / Chapter 3.8.2 --- Body weight of nude mice treated with PP --- p.75 / Chapter 3.8.3 --- Harmful effect of PP on nude mice --- p.76 / Chapter 3.8.4 --- Immunohistochemist analysis of mice tumor xenograft treated with PP --- p.77 / Chapter 3.8.5 --- Western blot anaylysis using the tumor tissues harvested from mice xenograftes treated with PP --- p.78 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Conclusion and future Plan --- p.81 / Reference --- p.83 / Related Publication List --- p.100

強心苷是一類多年普遍用於心力衰竭治療的化合物,包括蟾蜍靈和地高辛。鈉泵（也可稱為鈉鉀ATP酶）是強心苷的受體。最近流行病學研究，體外實驗，動物實驗和臨床試驗表明，強心苷具有癌症治療的強大潛力。 / 大腸癌是全球第三大殺手，約有一半的大腸癌患者需要手術切除後的輔助治療。因此，通過化療殺死腫瘤細胞，是一個可行的辦法來治療大腸癌患者。在本課題的研究中，強心苷抗人結腸癌的作用在HT-29和Caco-2細胞上進行了評價與闡釋。在結腸癌細胞研究模型中，蟾蜍靈誘導caspase非依賴性的細胞死亡，伴隨沒有早期凋亡，沒有聚（ADP-核糖）聚合酶(PARP)與caspase-3裂解，這些發現與強心苷誘發其它類腫瘤細胞凋亡的機製完全不同。相反，蟾蜍靈激活自噬途徑，促進LC3-II積累和自噬流動。此外，其它強心苷如地高辛與烏本苷也促使LC3-II在HT-29細胞內聚集。沉默ATG5和Beclin-1顯著降低蟾蜍靈誘導的LC3- II積累和細胞死亡。蟾蜍靈誘導的自噬與活性氧（ROS）產生和JNK活化相關。我們的研究結果揭示了蟾蜍靈藥物對抗結腸癌細胞的一種新的機制，開闢了強心苷通過自噬途徑來治療大腸癌的可能性。 / 最近的研究表明，強心苷誘導多種癌細胞系的細胞包括促使凋亡與自噬的細胞週期阻滯在G2／M期。然而，沒有詳細的信息闡述強心苷如何阻滯細胞週期進展。在本課題研究中，我們研究了強心苷介導的細胞週期阻滯的分子機制。蟾蜍靈處理的HeLa H2B-YFP細胞被阻滯在前中期，伴隨姐妹染色單體凝聚，染色體未排列在赤道板，未退出有絲分裂期。這一結果被蟾蜍靈誘導的四倍DNA含量細胞既不在四倍體G1期也不在胞質分裂期進一步證明。此後，我們檢測了紡錘體組裝和染色體分離所需的Aurora激酶和Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1)。結果發現，在HT-29和HeLa細胞上，蟾蜍靈和其它強心苷能顯著降低總蛋白質和磷酸化的Aurora激酶與Plk1。此外，我們還發現，蟾蜍靈通過PI3K下調有絲分裂酶的活性。這些結果已經通過沉默鈉泵α做了驗證。總之，我們的結果表明, 蟾蜍靈和其它強心苷鈉鉀泵抑製劑強有力的抑制細胞在前中期是通過PI3K/HIF-1α/NF-κB途徑下調Aurora激酶的蛋白質和磷酸化水平和Plk1的蛋白質水平。我們的研究發現在了解如何利用強心苷的潛能治療癌症以及認知鈉泵在細胞週期中的功能方面提供了有用的信息。 / The sodium pump (also known as Na+/K+-ATPase) is the receptor for cardiac glycosides, a group of compounds including bufalin and digoxin which have been commonly used for heart failure treatment for many years. Recent epidemiological studies, in vitro studies, animal studies and clinical trials have shown that cardiac glycosides have potential applications for cancer treatment. / Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide and about half of the patients with colorectal cancer require adjuvant therapy after surgical resection. Therefore, the eradication of cancer cells via chemotherapy constitutes a viable approach to treat patients with colorectal cancer. In this study, the effects of cardiac glycosides were evaluated and characterized in HT-29 and Caco-2 human colon cancer cells. Contrary to their well documented apoptosis-promoting activity in other cancer cells, bufalin did not cause caspase-dependent cell death in colon cancer cells, as indicated by the absence of significant early apoptosis, as well as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and caspase-3 cleavage. Instead, bufalin activated an autophagy pathway, as characterized by the accumulation of LC3-II and the stimulation of autophagic flux. Moreover, other cardiac glycosides digoxin and ouabain could also induce the accumulation of LC3-II in HT-29 cells. The silencing of ATG5 and Beclin-1 significantly reduced bufalin-induced LC3-II accumulation and cell death. The induction of autophagy by bufalin was linked to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and JNK activation. My findings unveil a novel mechanism of drug action by bufalin in colon cancer cells and open up the possibility of treating colorectal cancer by cardiac glycosides through an autophagy pathway. / Recent studies have revealed that cardiac glycosides induce G2/M phase arrest in many cancer cells, which include apoptosis- and autophagy-promoting cells. However, no detailed information is available on how cardiac glycosides arrest cell cycle progression. In this study, I studied the molecular mechanisms of cell cycle arrest mediated by cardiac glycosides. Bufalin-treated HeLa H2B-YFP cells were arrested at prometaphase, as characterized by the presence of sister chromatid cohesion, absence of chromosomes alignment on the metaphase plate, and failure to exit mitosis. This result was further confirmed by bufalin-induced cells with 4N DNA content in neither tetraploid G1 phase nor cytokinesis. Thereafter, I detected the Aurora kinases and Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), which are required for both spindle assembly and chromosome segregation. It was found that bufalin and other cardiac glycosides could significantly reduce the total protein and phosphorylation of Aurora kinases and Plk1 in HT-29 and HeLa cells. In addition, I found that PI3K was responsible for the bufalin-induced downregulation of the activities of mitotic kinases. This result was validated by silencing of sodium pump alpha. Taken together, my results demonstrate that bufalin and other cardiac glycoside inhibitors of the sodium pump potently arrest cancer cells at prometaphase by downregulating the total protein and phosphorylation of Aurora kinases and the total protein of Plk1 through the PI3K/HIF-1α/NF-κB pathway. My findings provide useful information in understanding how cardiac glycosides could be exploited for their potentials in treating cancer and in identifying the function of sodium pump in cell cycle progression. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Xie, Chuanming. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-152). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / Declaration of Originality --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / Abstract --- p.vi / Abstract (in Chinese) --- p.viii / List of Abbreviations --- p.xiv / List of Figures --- p.xvi / List of Tables --- p.xix / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Cancer --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- The chemical structure of cardiac glycosides --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- The traditional use of cardiac glycosides in cardiology --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4 --- The role of cardiac glycosides in cancer treatment --- p.4 / Chapter 1.5 --- The mechanisms of action by cardiac glycosides in cancer --- p.5 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- The structure and functions of cardiac glycosides receptor sodium pump --- p.5 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Sodium pump as anticancer target --- p.6 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- The signal pathways involved in anticancer effect of cardiac glycosides --- p.7 / Chapter 1.6 --- The role of cardiac glycosides in apoptosis and autophagy --- p.8 / Chapter 1.7 --- Objectives of this project --- p.12 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Bufalin induces autophagy but not apoptosis in human colon cancer cells --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Reagents and antibodies --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Cell culture --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Cell viability and cell death assay --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Annexin V and PI staining --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Cell cycle analysis --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Analysis of cleaved caspase-3-positive cells by flow cytometry --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Western blot analysis --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Immunofluorescence analysis of LC3 distribution --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.9 --- RNA isolation and RT-PCR --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.10 --- siRNAs transfection and treatments --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.11 --- Transmission electron microscopy --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.12 --- Statistical analysis --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Bufalin induces cell death and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in colon cancer cells --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Bufalin induces caspase-independent cell death in colon cancer cells --- p.28 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Bufalin induces autophagy in colon cancer cells --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Bufalin-induced autophagy is dependent on ATG5 and Beclin-1 --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Increased autophagy is responsible for bufalin-induced cell death --- p.40 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.42 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Bufalin mediates autophagic cell death through ROS generation and JNK activation --- p.44 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Reagents and antibodies --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Cell culture --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Cell viability and cell death assay --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Western blot analysis --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Quantification of cells with > 5 LC3 punctate staining --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- siRNAs transfection and treatments --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- RNA isolation and RT-PCR --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.8 --- ROS analysis --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.9 --- JC-1 staining --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2.10 --- Statistical analysis --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Bufalin induces autophagy-mediated cell death via ROS generation --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Activation of JNK is required for the upregulation of ATG5 and Beclin-1, and subsequent autophagy-mediated cell death in response to bufalin --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- ROS generation is upstream of JNK activation in bufalin-induced cell death --- p.59 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Bufalin-induced ROS generation is derived from mitochondria --- p.62 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.66 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Bufalin arrests cells at prometaphase --- p.69 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.69 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Reagents and antibodies --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Cell synchronization --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Mitotic index analysis of phosphorylation of MPM2 --- p.71 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Cell cycle analysis --- p.71 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Time-lapse experiments --- p.71 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Immunofluorescence analysis of phospho-histone H3 (Ser10) --- p.72 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Western blot analysis --- p.73 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.73 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Bufalin reduces mitotic marker phosphorylation of histone H3 and MPM2 and increases cells with 4N DNA content --- p.73 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Increased cells with 4N DNA content after bufalin treatment are in neither a tetraploid G1 phase nor a cytokinesis arrest --- p.77 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Bufalin-treated cells can enter prophase, but fail to pass through metaphase --- p.80 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.83 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Bufalin induces prometaphase arrest through downregulating mitotic kinases --- p.87 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.87 / Chapter 5.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.89 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Reagents and antibodies --- p.89 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Cell synchronization --- p.90 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Immunofluorescence staining --- p.90 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- siRNAs transfection and treatments --- p.91 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Western blot analysis --- p.91 / Chapter 5.2.6 --- Statistic analysis --- p.91 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results --- p.92 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Bufalin downregulates Aurora A and B in protein and phosphorylation levels --- p.92 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Bufalin prevents Aurora A recruitment to mitotic centrosomes and Aurora B recruitment to unattached kinetochores --- p.97 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Bufalin prevents Plk1 recruitment to mitotic centrosomes and unattached kinetochores through downregulation of protein levels of Plk1 --- p.101 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Bufalin decreases the activities of Aurora A, Aurora B and Plk1 through PI3K pathway --- p.105 / Chapter 5.3.5 --- HIF-1α and NF-κB pathways are involved in sodium pump-mediated the regulation of mitotic kinases --- p.109 / Chapter 5.4 --- Discussion --- p.112 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- General discussion --- p.115 / Chapter 6.1 --- Potential toxicity of bufalin --- p.115 / Chapter 6.2 --- Cardiac glycosides induced programmed cell death --- p.115 / Chapter 6.3 --- Signal pathways involved in cardiac glycosides-mediated autophagy --- p.117 / Chapter 6.4 --- The relationship between ROS and JNK in cardiac glycosides-induced autophagy --- p.120 / Chapter 6.5 --- The role of ROS in apoptosis and autophagy --- p.121 / Chapter 6.6 --- The role of cardiac glycosides in cell cycle arrest --- p.122 / Chapter 6.7 --- Application of cardiac glycosides in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy --- p.125 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Conclusions and future perspectives --- p.127 / References --- p.133 / Appendices --- p.153 / Publication --- p.153

Yu, Le. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 171-198). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

A 24-hour fermentation of the optimized synbiotic composed of B. longum and EPR was performed to give a cell-free fermentation broth (S24). S24 was co-cultured with two colon cancer cell lines (Caco-2 and SW620) and normal colon cells (FHC). S24 significantly inhibited cell proliferation for both colon cancer cells but promoted FHC cell growth by 10-25% as shown by MTT and BrdU arrays. Primary DNA damage analysis by alkaline comet assay showed S24 caused DNA damage to a comparable extent as the positive control of 10 mM H2O2 (treated for 1 hour) for both cancer cells. Dynamic analysis on DNA damage-associated DNA repair showed the two colon cancer cells had different response pattern to S24. Flow cytometric analysis showed that both Caco-2 and SW620 when treated with S24 (IC 50=3.66 mM of acetate) were arrested initially at G2/M and subsequently at S phase accompanied with large sub-G1 peaks. Dual staining with PI/AnnexinV further proved the appearance of apoptosis. Live cell imaging analysis on Caco-2 cells treated with S24 showed the following events: mitochondria were rapidly destroyed within the first two-hour treatment, the cells bubbled and the nucleus condensed after the mitochondrial had shrunken, followed by apoptosis. / Despite active research on synbiotic on anti-carcinogenesis of colon cancer by synbiotics, the underlying mechanism still remains unclear. This study investigated a novel synbiotic composed of non-digestible carbohydrates (NDCs) extracted from mushroom sclerotia as prebiotics and Bifidobacteria as probiotics. Preliminary results on incubation of two probiotics ( Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus brevis) and one pathogenic bacterium (Clostridium celatum) separately with 3 NDCs extracted from mushroom sclerotia [Poria cocos (PC), Polyporus rhinocerus (PR) and Pleurotus tuber-regium (PT)] indicated that the growth of B. longum and L. brevis was stimulated more preferentially than C. celatum after 72-hour fermentation. The short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profile was dominated by acetate (> 98% of total SCFAs) with very little butyrate (< 2.0% of total SCFAs) and the organic matter disappearance (OMD) during fermentation was consistent with the bacterial growth. Among the synbiotic combinations, NDC from PR and B. longum gave the largest amount of acetate (2.47+/-0.232 mmol/g of organic matter disappearance). / Results obtained from human pathway finder RT2 Profiler(TM) PCR Array indicated that S24 could modulate the proliferation of colon cancer cells mainly by various pathways such as cell cycle and DNA damage repair, apoptosis and cell senescence, etc. In SW620 cells, PCR Array of Human Cell Cycle further revealed that the modulated genes mainly belonged to the gene cluster of S phase and DNA replication as well as G2 and G2/M transition. While for Caco-2 cells, the cell-cycle modulated genes mainly belonged to the cluster of G2 and G2/M transition. Immuno-blotting on the pivotal upstream regulators showed that phosphorylation of ATM at Serine 1981 was significantly increased in both cancer cells. Site-specific phosphorylation of pRB was decreased and phosphorylation of Chk1 was increased in both cancer cells while Chk2 were increased in SW620 cells. Cdc25A was phosphorylated at serine17 in both cancer cells. It can be proposed that the blockage of DNA synthesis or DNA damage was due to the down-regulation of some pivotal DNA replication related proteins such as RPA3, PCNA and MCMs, detected by ATM-Chk1/Chk2-Cdc25A pathway. This would cause the prolonged staying of cells at the G1/S checkpoint which further moved on to S phase arrest for SW620 cells. Moreover the sharply up-regulated p21, an important inhibitor of Cdk2 would further hinder the cells passing the G1/S checkpoint in SW620 cells. / The tumor suppressor p53 was detected phosphorylated at various sites in SW620 but not in Caco-2 cells. In SW620 cells, G2/M arrest was caused by the inhibition of CDK1/CDC2 due to increased expression of GADD45A and p21 and phosphorylation of Cdc25A, while for Caco-2, the G2/M arrest was caused by degradation of Cdc25A due to the absence of p53-activated GADD45A and p21 expression as shown in the pathway finder results. Some apoptosis-related proteins of Bax, Apaf-1 and PARP were modulated as shown by immuno-blotting in both colon cancer cells. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / Gao, Shane. / Adviser: Peter Chi-Keung Cheung. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 72-11, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 55-94). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Leung, Winnie. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-164). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iii / Acknowledgements --- p.v / Table of Contents --- p.vi / List of Figures --- p.x / Abbreviations --- p.xii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Clinical management of Cancer --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- Multidrug resistance --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3 --- Aim of study --- p.14 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Identification of gene contributing to multidrug resistance in human uterine sarcoma cells --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2 --- Material and Methods / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Materials / Chapter 2.2.1.1 --- Cell lines --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.1.2 --- "Cell culture medium, supplements and buffers" --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.1.3 --- Gene expression assay reagents --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.1.4 --- Western blotting reagents --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.1.5 --- MTT assay reagents --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.1.6 --- Apoptosis analysis by flow cytometry reagents --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Metho --- p.ds / Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- Cell Culture --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- MTT assay --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.2.3 --- Gene expression essay (RT-PCR) --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.2.4 --- Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of protein lysate and Western blotting --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.2.5 --- Quantification of doxorubicin uptake by flow cytometry --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.2.6 --- Apoptosis analysis by flow cytometry --- p.41 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.4 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Cytotoxicity of doxorubicin on SA and DX5 cells --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- mRNA expression of multidrug resistance related genes in SA and DX5 cells --- p.46 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- P-glycoprotein expression in SA and DX5 cells --- p.49 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Doxorubicin (Dox) uptake by SA and DX5 cells --- p.51 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Doxorubicin induced Apoptosis in SA and DX5 cells --- p.54 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.61 / Chapter 2.5 --- Conclusion --- p.65 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Alternation in P-glycoprotein expression in DX5_Ninjl cells --- p.66 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.67 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Materials / Chapter 3.2.1.1 --- Cell lines --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.1.2 --- "Cell culture medium, supplements and buffers" --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.1.3 --- Gene expression assay reagents --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.1.4 --- Western blotting reagents --- p.72 / Chapter 3.2.1.5 --- Plasmid DNA extraction --- p.75 / Chapter 3.2.1.6 --- Transient transfection --- p.76 / Chapter 3.2.1.7 --- MTT reagents --- p.76 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Methods / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- Cell culture --- p.78 / Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- Gene expression essay (RT-PCR) --- p.79 / Chapter 3.2.2.3 --- Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of protein lysate and Western blotting --- p.81 / Chapter 3.2.2.4 --- DNA plasmid extraction --- p.83 / Chapter 3.2.2.5 --- Transient transfection --- p.84 / Chapter 3.2.2.6 --- MTT assay --- p.85 / Chapter 3.2.2.7 --- Quantification of doxorubicin (Dox) uptake by flow cytometry --- p.86 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results / Chapter 3.3.1 --- mRNA expression of Ninjurinl (Ninj1) in SA and DX5 cells --- p.87 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- The protein expression of Ninjurinl (Ninj1) in SA and DX5 cells --- p.89 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Ninjurin1 (Ninj1) cDNA transfection in DX5 cells --- p.91 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- mRNA expression of MDR1 in Ninjurin1-transfected DX5 cells (DX5_Ninjl) --- p.93 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- P-glycoprotein expression in Ninjurin1-transfected DX5 cells --- p.95 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- "Cytotoxicity of doxorubicin (Dox) on DX5 control, DX5 vector control and DX5_Ninjl cells" --- p.97 / Chapter 3.3.7 --- "Doxorubicin (Dox) uptake by SA control, DX5 control and DX5_Ninjl cells" --- p.99 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.102 / Chapter 3.5 --- Conclusion --- p.105 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Alternation in MDR1 expression in DX5一THBS1 cells --- p.106 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.107 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Materials / Chapter 4.2.1.1 --- Cell lines --- p.109 / Chapter 4.2.1.2 --- Cell culture medium； supplements and buffers --- p.109 / Chapter 4.2.1.3 --- Gene expression assay reagents --- p.109 / Chapter 4.2.1.4 --- Western blotting reagents --- p.111 / Chapter 4.2.1.5 --- Plasmid DNA extraction --- p.114 / Chapter 4.2.1.6 --- Transient transfection --- p.115 / Chapter 4.2.1.7 --- MTT reagents --- p.115 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Methods / Chapter 4.2.2.1 --- Cell culture --- p.117 / Chapter 4.2.2.2 --- Gene expression essay (RT-PCR) --- p.118 / Chapter 4.2.2.3 --- Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of protein lysate and Western blotting --- p.120 / Chapter 4.2.2.4 --- DNA plasmid extraction --- p.123 / Chapter 4.2.2.5 --- Transient transfection --- p.123 / Chapter 4.2.2.6 --- MTT assay --- p.124 / Chapter 4.2.2.7 --- Quantification of doxorubicin (Dox) uptake by flow cytometry --- p.125 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results / Chapter 4.3.1 --- mRNA expression of Thrombospondinl (THBS1) in SA and DX5 cells --- p.126 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- The protein expression of Thrombospondinl (THBS1) in SA and DX5 cells --- p.128 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Thrombospondinl (THBS1) cDNA transfection in DX5 cells --- p.130 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- mRNA expression of MDR1 in Thrombospondinl-transfected DX5 cells (DX5_THBS1) --- p.132 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- P-glycoprotein expression in Thrombospondinl-transfected DX5 cells --- p.134 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- "Cytotoxicity of doxorubicin (Dox) on DX5 control, DX5 vector control and DX5一THBS1 cells" --- p.136 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- "Doxorubicin (Dox) uptake by SA control, DX5 control and DX5_THBS1 cells" --- p.138 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.141 / Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusion --- p.145 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- General discussion --- p.146 / Chapter 5.1 --- Doxorubicin induced multidrug resistance in human uterin sarcoma cells via upregulation of P-glycoprotein --- p.147 / Chapter 5.2 --- The down-regulation of Ninjurin1 in human uterine sarcoma cells contributed to multidrug resistance --- p.148 / Chapter 5.3 --- The down-regulation of Thrombospondin1 in human uterine sarcoma cells contributed to multidrug resistance --- p.150 / Chapter 5.4 --- Conclusion and Future Perspective --- p.153 / Reference --- p.155

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is an aggressive hematologic tumor and is the most common malignancy in children (Horton and Steuber 2014). This disease is characterized by the infiltration of bone marrow by malignant immature lymphoid progenitor cells and is invariably fatal without treatment. Although multi-agent combination chemotherapy is curative in a significant fraction of ALL patients, treatment currently fails in approximately 20% of children and up to 50% of adults with ALL, making relapse and drug resistance the most substantial challenge in the treatment of this disease(Fielding, Richards et al. 2007, Aster and DeAngelo 2013). Understanding what causes treatment failure is of great medical importance as second line therapies also fail in the majority of relapse T-cell ALL (TALL) patients (Fielding, Richards et al. 2007, Aster and DeAngelo 2013). Using next-generation sequencing to compare the genomes of tumors before and after therapy, mutations in gene cytosolic 5’-nucleotidase II (NT5C2) were discovered in 19% of pediatric samples with relapsed T-ALL(Tzoneva, Carpenter et al. 2013). Preliminary structure function analysis and subsequent in vitro experimental nucleotidase activity assays confirmed that these mutations lead to hyperactive NT5C2 protein. Furthermore, NT5C2 mutant proteins conferred resistance to 6-mercaptopurine and 6-thioguanine chemotherapy drugs when expressed in ALL lymphoblasts, suggesting NT5C2 is responsible for the inactivation of nucleoside-analog chemotherapy drugs. In order to assess the ability of these mutations to lead to novel inhibitor schemes, the functional impact of each mutation was analyzed through robust structure function methods. The result of this in silico analysis, is the identification of a potential allosteric regulatory mechanism of negative feedback inhibition never before described. Most notably, the majority of NT5C2 mutations identified have characteristics that suggest they abrogate the function of this proposed mechanism, yielding a novel viable target for the development of allosteric inhibitors specific for constitutively active NT5C2 mutant proteins. Overall these findings support a prominent role for activating mutations in NT5C2 and chemotherapy resistance in ALL, and highlight new avenues for relapsed ALL therapy development in the future.

A terapia fotodinâmica (Photodynamic Therapy - PDT) é um método de tratar neoplasias baseado na interação entre luz, oxigênio molecular e um agente fotossensibilizador. Após a administração do agente, o tumor é iluminado com luz visível, ativando-o e produzindo espécies reativas de oxigênio, altamente citotóxicas, que provocam morte celular e destruição tecidual. Com a destruição do tumor há ativação do sistema imune inato e o subsequente processo inflamatório determina a apresentação de antígenos tumorais aos linfócitos, promovendo uma resposta imunológica adaptativa contra o tecido tumoral. O presente trabalho visou estudar a PDT associando um laser de diodo como fonte de luz e o fotossensibilizante Azul de Metileno (AM) a 1%, avaliando a sua efetividade no tratamento do Tumor de Ehrlich (TE) em sua forma sólida e a resposta imunológica nos animais tratados. Em um primeiro estudo, avaliou-se macro e microscopicamente tumores tratados, determinando a capacidade do protocolo em induzir inflamação e destruição do tecido tumoral. No segundo estudo, a resposta imune foi estudada em camundongos desafiados com um segundo implante de células do tumor de Ehrlich. O primeiro implante tumoral foi tratado com a PDT ou a excisão cirúrgica, comparando-se com um grupo controle sem tratamento. Os parâmetros avaliados após 17 dias foram o crescimento tumoral (p>0,05), peso relativo dos órgãos linfóides [Baço (p<0,05) e Linfonodo poplíteo (p>0,05)], tamanho relativo do linfonodo (p<0,05), presença de metástase em linfonodo poplíteo (p>0,05), contagem de leucócitos sanguíneos (p>0,05) e análise morfométrica quantitativa do tumor secundário [determinação da fração volumétrica de células tumorais (p<0,05), infiltrado inflamatório (p<0,05), necrose (p>0,06) e porcentagem da área tumoral em necrose (p<0,05)]. A PDT com o AM foi capaz de induzir necrose do TE e inflamação, havendo diferenças da resposta imune sistêmica quando comparado aos animais tratados por meio de excisão cirúrgica do tumor de Ehrlich. / Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a method of treating neoplasms based on the interaction between light, molecular oxygen and a photosensitizing agent. After administration of the photosensitizer, the tumor is illuminated with visible light, activating the agent and producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). This highly cytotoxic ROS cause cell death and tissue destruction. The activation of the innate immune system and the subsequent inflammation induces tumor antigen presentation to lymphocytes, promoting an adaptive immune response against the tumor cells. This work aimed to study the PDT using a diode laser as light source and Methylene Blue (MB) 1% as photosensitizer. It was accessed its effectiveness in treating Ehrlich Solid tumor (ET) and the immune response produced in treated animals. First the treated tumors were evaluated macroscopically and microscopically, determining the ability of the protocol to induce inflammation and tumor tissue destruction. In a second study, the immune response was studied in mice challenged with a second tumor cell implant. The primary tumor was treated with PDT or surgical excision, comparing with a control group without treatment. The parameters evaluated after 17 days were tumor growth (p> 0.05), relative weight of lymphoid organs [spleen (p <0.05) and popliteal lymph node (p> 0.05)], the relative size of the lymph node (p <0, 05), metastasis at lymph node (p>0,05), blood leukocyte count (p> 0.05) and quantitative morphometric analysis of secondary tumor [determining the volume fraction of tumor cells (p <0.05), inflammatory infiltrate (p <0.05), necrosis (p> 0.06) and tumor necrosis area (p <0.05)]. PDT with MB was able to induce necrosis of the ET and inflammation, with differences in the immune response when compared to animals treated surgically to remove the Ehrlich tumor in its solid form.

Yuen, Ka Leung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-104). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- CANCER / Chapter 1.1.1 --- OVERVIEW OF CANCER --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- DEVELOPMENT OF CANCER --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- CHARACTERISTICS OF CANCER CELLS --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- CATEGORIZATION OF CANCER --- p.6 / Chapter 1.1.5 --- RISK FACTORS IN CANCER DEVELOPMENT --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.6 --- EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CANCER --- p.11 / Chapter 1.1.7 --- CANCER THERAPIES --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2 --- SOYBEANS AND ISOFLAVONES / Chapter 1.2.1 --- GENERAL INTRODUCTION OF ISOFLAVONES --- p.18 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- NATURAL FUNCTIONS OF ISOFLAVONES --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- STRUCTURES OF ISOFLAVONES --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- BIOACTIVITIES OF SOY ISOFLAVONES --- p.20 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- PRODUCTION OF SOY ISOFLAVONES CAN BE AFFECTED BY MANY FACTORS --- p.21 / Chapter 1.3 --- THE AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT / Chapter 1.3.1 --- AIM OF THE PROJECT --- p.22 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT --- p.23 / Chapter 2 --- Materials / Chapter 2.1 --- 19 DROUGHT TOLERANT SOYBEAN LINES --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2 --- 5 HUMAN CANCER CELL LINES --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3 --- CHEMICALS --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4 --- REAGENTS --- p.26 / Chapter 2.5 --- SOLUTIONS --- p.26 / Chapter 2.6 --- MAJOR EQUIPMENTS AND MATERIALS --- p.28 / Chapter 3 --- Methodology / Chapter 3.1 --- PREPARATION OF SOYBEAN EXTRACTS --- p.29 / Chapter 3.2 --- HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY(HPLC) ANALYSIS OF SOYBEAN EXTRACTS / Chapter 3.2.1 --- PREPARATION OF SOYBEAN EXTRACTS FOR HPLC ANALYS --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- HPLC ANALYSIS --- p.30 / Chapter 3.3 --- PREPARATION OF 5 HUMAN CANCER CELL LINES FOR ANTI-PROLIFERATION ASSAY / Chapter 3.3.1 --- THAWING OF THE C Y R O P R E S E R V E D CELL LINES --- p.31 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- MAINTAINING OF CELL LINES --- p.32 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- ANTI-PROLIFERATION TEST WITH MTT ASSAY --- p.33 / Chapter 3.4 --- STATISTICS --- p.35 / Chapter 4 --- Results / Chapter 4.1 --- PREPARARTION OF SOYBEAN EXTRACTS --- p.36 / Chapter 4.2 --- HPLC ANALYSIS OF 5 SELECTED ISOFLAVONES IN 19 SOYBEAN SAMPLES --- p.36 / Chapter 4.3 --- COMPARISON OF SUM OF 5 SELECTED ISOFLAVONES FROM THE PARENT SOYBEAN AND VARIETIES HARVESTED FROM IRRIGATED LAND --- p.43 / Chapter 4.4 --- COMPARISON OF SUM OF 5 SELECTED ISOFLAVONES FROM THE SOYBEAN VARIETIES HARVESTED FROM DROUGHT LAND --- p.45 / Chapter 4.5 --- COMPARISON OF SELECTED ISOFLAVONES FROM THE PARENT SOYBEAN AND VARIETIES HARVESTED FROM IRRIGATED LAND --- p.47 / Chapter 4.6 --- COMPARISON OF SELECTED ISOFLAVONES FROM THE PARENT SOYBEAN AND VARIETIES HARVESTED FROM DAROUGHT LAND --- p.54 / Chapter 4.7 --- COMPARISON OF SUM OF SELECTED ISOFLAVONES AMONG THE SOYBEANS HARVESTED FROM IRRIGATED LAND AND DROUGHT LAND --- p.59 / Chapter 4.8 --- DETERMINATION OF ANTI-PROLIFERATION ABILITIES OF SOYBEAN SAMPLES --- p.19 / Chapter 4.8.1 --- ANTI-PROLIFERATION TEST OF ETHANOL AND 2-PHEN YLCHROMONE --- p.61 / Chapter 4.8.2 --- ANTI-PROLIFERATION ACTIVITIES OF 19 SOYBEAN SAMPLES ON 5 HUMAN CANCER CELL LINES --- p.61 / Chapter 4.9 --- COMPARISON OF ANTI-PROLIFERATION POTENCIES OF19 SOYBEAN SAMPLES WITH SUM OF SELECTED ISOFLAVONES --- p.70 / Chapter 4.10 --- COMPARISON OF ANTI-PROLIFERATION POTENCIES OF19 SOYBEAN SAMPLES --- p.72 / Chapter 4.11 --- ANTI-PROLIFERATION EFFECT OF INDIVIDUAL ISOFLAVONES ON FIVE CANCER CELL LINES --- p.74 / Chapter 5 --- Discussion / Chapter 5.1 --- EXTRACTION OF 19 SOYBEAN LINES --- p.77 / Chapter 5.2 --- DETERMINATION OF QUANTITIES OF SELECTED ISOFLAVONES IN 19 SOYBEAN SAMPLES BY HPLC ANALYSIS --- p.77 / Chapter 5.3 --- COMPARISON OF SELECTED ISOFLAVONES AMONG 19 SOYBEAN SAMPLES / Chapter 5.3.1 --- COMPARISON OF SUM OF SELECTED ISOFLAVONES BETWEEN PARENT AND SOYBEANS HARVESTED FROM IRRIGATED LAND --- p.80 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- COMPARISON OF SUM OF SELECTED ISOFLAVONES BETWEEN SOYBEANS HARVESTED FROM DROUGHT LAND --- p.81 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- COMPARISON OF SELECTED ISOFLAVONES BETWEEN SOYBEANS HARVESTED FROM IRRIGATED LAND --- p.81 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- COMPARISON OF SELECTED ISOFLAVONES BETWEEN SOYBEANS HARVESTED FROM DROUGHT LAND --- p.82 / Chapter 5.3.5 --- COMPARISON OF SUM OF SELECTED ISOFLAVONES BETWEEN SOYBEANS HARVESTED FROM IRRIGATED LAND AND DROUGHT LAND --- p.83 / Chapter 5.4 --- COMPARISON OF ANTI-PROLIFERATION ACTIVITIES OF 19 SOYBEAN SAMPLES / Chapter 5.4.1 --- COMPARISON OF ANTI-PROLIFERATION ACTIVITIES OF19 SOYBEAN SAMPLES AMONG 5 CANCER CELL LINES --- p.84 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- COMPARISON OF ANTI-PROLIFERATION POTENCIES OF19 SOYBEAN SAMPLES --- p.85 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- COMPARISON OF ANTI-PROLIFERATION ACTIVITIES OF19 SOYBEAN SAMPLES AND CORRESPONDING SUM OF SELECTED ISOFLAVONES --- p.86 / Chapter 5.4.4 --- COMPARISON OF IC50S FROM SOYBEANS HARVESTED FROM IRRIGATED LAND AND DROUGHT LAND --- p.87 / Chapter 5.4.5 --- CORRELATION OF ISOFLAVONES AND ANTI-PROLIFERATION POTENCIES --- p.88 / Chapter 6 --- Conclusion --- p.90 / Chapter 7 --- References --- p.91 / Chapter 8 --- Appendix --- p.S1

Lau, Ka Yee. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 223-237). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iv / Acknowledgments --- p.vi / Publication List --- p.vii / Table of Contents --- p.viii / List of Abbreviations --- p.xiv / List of Figures --- p.xvi / List of Tables --- p.xx / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Cancer --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Cancer in Hong Kong --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Different types of cancer treatments and the side effects --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Alternative therapies for cancer treatment --- p.6 / Chapter 1.1.3.1 --- Successful examples of anti-cancer drugs from traditional Chinese herbs --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2 --- Anti-tumor study approaches --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Direct cytotoxic activities --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Immunomodulatory activities --- p.14 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Anti-angiogenesis activities --- p.16 / Chapter 1.3 --- Objectives of our study --- p.20 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Background of selected Chinese herbs in our study / Chapter 2.1 --- Search for anti-tumor Chinese herbs --- p.21 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Chinese herbs commonly used for cancer treatment --- p.21 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Literature Search --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2 --- Results --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Lists of Chinese herbs from various Chinese medicine practitioners --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Selected traditional Chinese herbs from literature search --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Selected Chinese herbs for our study --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3 --- Background information of the five selected Chinese herbs --- p.28 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Fructus Bruceae (FB) --- p.28 / Chapter 2.3.1.1 --- Traditional uses --- p.28 / Chapter 2.3.1.2 --- Previous Studies of Fructus Bruceae --- p.28 / Chapter 2.3.1.3 --- Isolated compounds of FB --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Cortex Phellodendri Amurensis (PA) --- p.35 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Traditional uses --- p.35 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Previous studies of Cortex Phellodendri Amurensis --- p.35 / Chapter 2.3.2.3 --- Previous studies of Berberine --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Radix et Rhizoma Asteris (RA) --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3.3.1 --- Traditional uses --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3.3.2 --- Previous Studies of Radix et Rhizoma Asteris --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Semen Coicis (SC) --- p.41 / Chapter 2.3.4.1 --- Traditional uses --- p.41 / Chapter 2.3.4.2 --- Previous Studies of Semen Coicis --- p.41 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Radix Scrophulariae (RS) --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3.5.1 --- Traditional uses --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3.5.2 --- Previous Studies of Radix Scrophulariae --- p.43 / Chapter 2.4 --- Authentication of selected Chinese herbs --- p.45 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Sources --- p.45 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Morphological characteristics of the Chinese herbs --- p.47 / Chapter 2.4.2.1 --- Fructus Bruceae --- p.47 / Chapter 2.4.2.2 --- Cortex Phellodendri Amurensis --- p.48 / Chapter 2.4.2.3 --- Radix et Rhizoma Asteris --- p.49 / Chapter 2.4.2.4 --- Semen Coicis --- p.50 / Chapter 2.4.2.5 --- Radix Scrophulariae --- p.51 / Chapter 2.5 --- Extraction of selected Chinese herbs --- p.52 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Materials and methods --- p.52 / Chapter 2.5.1.1 --- Preparation of aqueous extracts of selected Chinese herbs --- p.52 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Results --- p.53 / Chapter 2.5.2.1 --- Percentage yield of aqueous extract of selected Chinese herbs --- p.53 / Chapter 2.6 --- Discussion --- p.54 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Direct cytotoxic effect of selected Chinese herbs / Chapter 3.1 --- Background --- p.55 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Cell cultures --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Determination of cell viability by MTT assay --- p.58 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Determination of cell proliferation by tritiated thymidine incorporation assay --- p.59 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Preparation of etoposide for direct cytotoxic assay --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Statistical analysis --- p.61 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.62 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Cytotoxic effects of five selected Chinese herbs on a panel of human cancer cell lines and human normal cell line --- p.62 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Comparison of the cytotoxic effect of etoposide and the selected Chinese herbal extracts on a panel of human tumor cells --- p.72 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Further investigations of the anti-tumor effect of PA --- p.75 / Chapter 3.3.3.1 --- Materials and methods --- p.75 / Chapter 3.3.3.1.1 --- Quantification of berberine chloride in PA aqueous extract using TLC --- p.75 / Chapter 3.3.3.1.2 --- Determination of cell viability by MTT assay --- p.76 / Chapter 3.3.3.2 --- Results --- p.76 / Chapter 3.3.3.2.1 --- Quantification of berberine chloride in PA aqueous extract using TLC --- p.76 / Chapter 3.3.3.2.2 --- Cytotoxic effect of berberine on a panel of human cancer cell lines --- p.78 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.80 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Immunomodulatory effects of selected Chinese herbs / Chapter 4.1 --- Background --- p.84 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.87 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Preparation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (huPBMCs) --- p.87 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Determination of cell proliferation by tritiated thymidine incorporation assay --- p.88 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Preparation of cell mitogens --- p.88 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.89 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.89 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Mitogenic activities of the selected herbal extracts on huPBMCs --- p.89 / Chapter 4.4 --- Further investigations of the mitogenic activities of SC and RA extracts --- p.96 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Materials and methods --- p.96 / Chapter 4.4.1.1 --- Preparation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (huPBMCs) --- p.96 / Chapter 4.4.1.2 --- Determination of cell proliferation by tritiated thymidine incorporation assay --- p.96 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Results --- p.97 / Chapter 4.4.2.1 --- Mitogenic effects of SC and RA aqueous extracts (in the presence of polymyxin B) --- p.97 / Chapter 4.5 --- Chemical characterization of RA aqueous extract --- p.100 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Materials and methods --- p.100 / Chapter 4.5.1.1 --- Quantification of polysaccharide and carbohydrate contents in RA aqueous extract --- p.100 / Chapter 4.5.1.2 --- Quantification of protein content in RA aqueous extract --- p.101 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Results --- p.103 / Chapter 4.5.2.1 --- Chemical characterization of RA aqueous extract --- p.103 / Chapter 4.6 --- Further investigations of the underlying mechanisms of the mitogenic activities of RA aqueous extract --- p.104 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Materials and methods --- p.104 / Chapter 4.6.1.1 --- Preparation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (huPBMCs) --- p.104 / Chapter 4.6.1.2 --- Determination of cell proliferation by tritiated thymidine incorporation assay --- p.104 / Chapter 4.6.1.3 --- Human Thl/Th2 Cytokine Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) --- p.105 / Chapter 4.6.1.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.106 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- Results --- p.106 / Chapter 4.6.2.1 --- Effects of RA aqueous extract on productions of cytokinesin huPBMCs --- p.106 / Chapter 4.7 --- Discussion --- p.108 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Anti-angiogenesis effects of selected Chinese herbs / Chapter 5.1 --- Background of in vivo zebrafish model --- p.112 / Chapter 5.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.117 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Maintenance of zebrafish --- p.117 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Collection of zebrafish embryos --- p.117 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Zebrafish embryos treated with different herbal extracts --- p.117 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Visual screens of zebrafish embryos using fluorescence microscopy --- p.118 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Statistical analysis --- p.118 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results --- p.120 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Anti-angiogenesis effect of SU5416 --- p.120 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Anti-angiogenesis effects of selected herbal extracts on zebrafish model --- p.122 / Chapter 5.4 --- Discussion --- p.133 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Further investigations on the anti-tumor effects of Fructus Bruceae and its sub-fractions / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.136 / Chapter 6.2 --- Solvent partition of FB aqueous extract --- p.138 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Materials and methods --- p.138 / Chapter 6.2.1.1 --- Solvent partition --- p.138 / Chapter 6.2.1.2 --- Thin layer chromatography of FB fractions --- p.138 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Results --- p.139 / Chapter 6.2.2.1 --- Percentage yield of different fractions of FB aqueous extract --- p.139 / Chapter 6.2.2.2 --- Thin layer chromatography of FB fractions --- p.140 / Chapter 6.3 --- Investigations of the anti-tumor activities of FBW fraction --- p.141 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Materials and methods --- p.141 / Chapter 6.3.1.1 --- Cell cultures --- p.141 / Chapter 6.3.1.2 --- Determination of cell viability by MTT assay --- p.141 / Chapter 6.3.1.3 --- Preparation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (huPBMCs) --- p.141 / Chapter 6.3.1.4 --- Determination of cell proliferation by tritiated thymidine incorporation assay --- p.141 / Chapter 6.3.1.5 --- Statistical analysis --- p.141 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Results --- p.142 / Chapter 6.3.2.1 --- Cytotoxic effects of FBW on a panel of human cancer cells and human normal cells --- p.142 / Chapter 6.3.2.2 --- Mitogenic activities of FBW fraction on huPBMCs --- p.145 / Chapter 6.4 --- Chemical characterizations of FB aqueous extract and FBW fraction --- p.147 / Chapter 6.4.1 --- Materials and methods --- p.147 / Chapter 6.4.2 --- Results --- p.147 / Chapter 6.5 --- Bioassay guided fractionation of FBW --- p.149 / Chapter 6.5.1 --- Fractionation using macroporous resin column (D101) --- p.149 / Chapter 6.5.2 --- Investigations of the anti-tumor effects of the sub-fractions of FBW --- p.151 / Chapter 6.5.2.1 --- Direct cytotoxic effects of FBW sub-fractions on NB-4 cells and human normal cells --- p.151 / Chapter 6.5.2.2 --- Immunomodulatory effects of FBW-DH sub-fraction --- p.154 / Chapter 6.5.3 --- Fractionation using ethanol precipitation --- p.155 / Chapter 6.5.3.1 --- Chemical characterization of sub-fractions of FBW-DH --- p.156 / Chapter 6.5.3.2 --- "Direct cytotoxic effects of 50P, 80P and 80S on NB-4 cells and human normal cells" --- p.159 / Chapter 6.5.3.2.1 --- DNA agarose gel electrophoresis --- p.163 / Chapter 6.5.3.2.2 --- Cell death detection ELISA --- p.166 / Chapter 6.5.3.2.3 --- ELISA of apoptotic related proteins --- p.168 / Chapter 6.5.3.2.4 --- Telomerase PCR ELISA --- p.176 / Chapter 6.5.3.3 --- "Immunomodulatory effects of 50P, 80P and 80S" --- p.178 / Chapter 6.5.3.3.1 --- Human Thl/Th2 cytokine cytometric bead array (CBA) --- p.180 / Chapter 6.5.3.3.2 --- Limulus Amebocyte Lysate assay --- p.183 / Chapter 6.5.3.4 --- "Anti-angiogenic effects of 50P, 80P and 80S" --- p.184 / Chapter 6.5.3.5 --- Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) analysis of 50P --- p.192 / Chapter 6.6 --- Discussion --- p.194 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- General discussions and conclusions / Chapter 7.1 --- Anti-tumor activities of five selected Chinese herbs --- p.202 / Chapter 7.2 --- Significance of the present study --- p.213 / Chapter 7.3 --- Limitations of our study --- p.214 / Chapter 7.4 --- Future work --- p.215 / Appendices / Appendix I Phenol-sulphuric acid spectrophotometric assay --- p.216 / Appendix II Bradford assay --- p.217 / Appendix III Calibration curves of cytokines in CBA assay --- p.218 / Appendix IV Endotoxin standard curve --- p.220 / Appendix V LCMS data of two chemical markers of FB --- p.221 / Bibliography --- p.223

A terapia fotodinâmica (Photodynamic Therapy - PDT) é um método de tratar neoplasias baseado na interação entre luz, oxigênio molecular e um agente fotossensibilizador. Após a administração do agente, o tumor é iluminado com luz visível, ativando-o e produzindo espécies reativas de oxigênio, altamente citotóxicas, que provocam morte celular e destruição tecidual. Com a destruição do tumor há ativação do sistema imune inato e o subsequente processo inflamatório determina a apresentação de antígenos tumorais aos linfócitos, promovendo uma resposta imunológica adaptativa contra o tecido tumoral. O presente trabalho visou estudar a PDT associando um laser de diodo como fonte de luz e o fotossensibilizante Azul de Metileno (AM) a 1%, avaliando a sua efetividade no tratamento do Tumor de Ehrlich (TE) em sua forma sólida e a resposta imunológica nos animais tratados. Em um primeiro estudo, avaliou-se macro e microscopicamente tumores tratados, determinando a capacidade do protocolo em induzir inflamação e destruição do tecido tumoral. No segundo estudo, a resposta imune foi estudada em camundongos desafiados com um segundo implante de células do tumor de Ehrlich. O primeiro implante tumoral foi tratado com a PDT ou a excisão cirúrgica, comparando-se com um grupo controle sem tratamento. Os parâmetros avaliados após 17 dias foram o crescimento tumoral (p>0,05), peso relativo dos órgãos linfóides [Baço (p<0,05) e Linfonodo poplíteo (p>0,05)], tamanho relativo do linfonodo (p<0,05), presença de metástase em linfonodo poplíteo (p>0,05), contagem de leucócitos sanguíneos (p>0,05) e análise morfométrica quantitativa do tumor secundário [determinação da fração volumétrica de células tumorais (p<0,05), infiltrado inflamatório (p<0,05), necrose (p>0,06) e porcentagem da área tumoral em necrose (p<0,05)]. A PDT com o AM foi capaz de induzir necrose do TE e inflamação, havendo diferenças da resposta imune sistêmica quando comparado aos animais tratados por meio de excisão cirúrgica do tumor de Ehrlich. / Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a method of treating neoplasms based on the interaction between light, molecular oxygen and a photosensitizing agent. After administration of the photosensitizer, the tumor is illuminated with visible light, activating the agent and producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). This highly cytotoxic ROS cause cell death and tissue destruction. The activation of the innate immune system and the subsequent inflammation induces tumor antigen presentation to lymphocytes, promoting an adaptive immune response against the tumor cells. This work aimed to study the PDT using a diode laser as light source and Methylene Blue (MB) 1% as photosensitizer. It was accessed its effectiveness in treating Ehrlich Solid tumor (ET) and the immune response produced in treated animals. First the treated tumors were evaluated macroscopically and microscopically, determining the ability of the protocol to induce inflammation and tumor tissue destruction. In a second study, the immune response was studied in mice challenged with a second tumor cell implant. The primary tumor was treated with PDT or surgical excision, comparing with a control group without treatment. The parameters evaluated after 17 days were tumor growth (p> 0.05), relative weight of lymphoid organs [spleen (p <0.05) and popliteal lymph node (p> 0.05)], the relative size of the lymph node (p <0, 05), metastasis at lymph node (p>0,05), blood leukocyte count (p> 0.05) and quantitative morphometric analysis of secondary tumor [determining the volume fraction of tumor cells (p <0.05), inflammatory infiltrate (p <0.05), necrosis (p> 0.06) and tumor necrosis area (p <0.05)]. PDT with MB was able to induce necrosis of the ET and inflammation, with differences in the immune response when compared to animals treated surgically to remove the Ehrlich tumor in its solid form.